Continuous ridge ventilator



y 1933. M cDOUGALD DEXTER 1,917,218

CONTINUOUS RIDGE VE'NTILATOR Filed Aug. 4, 1930 Z-Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Marrfiau yd/d Dex tar ATTO RN EYS July 11; 1933. MacDOUGALD DEXTER CONTINUOUS RIDGE VENTILATOR Filed Aug. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYfi Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACDOUGALD DEXTER, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER VENTILATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF GEORGIA CONTINUOUS RIDGE VENTILATOR Application filed August 4, 1930. Serial No. 472,891.

My invention relates to ventilators, and particularly ventilators of the type known as continuousridge ventilators such as form the subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States issued to me on the 14th day of December, 1926, No. 1,611,005.

In my Letters Patent aforesaid, I have shown a ventilator comprising a continuous cover over a ventilating aperture extending along the ridge of the roof and providing an opening of the desired cross sectional area for effectively ventilating a room or building.

I show, in connection with such a ventilator, means for closing the opening when ventilation is not desired, such means comprising a continuous damper extending the length of the ridge aperture and adapted when seated to close such aperture, flexible suspension means being provided so that by imparting longitudinal movement to this damper it can be raised to clear the roof opening and opened to permit the ventilating function to take place.

The chief object of my present invention is to simplify and perfect the means for operating the damper and for holding it effectively in either open or closed position.

One object of my invention is to utilize inclined rollers or slide guides arranged in opposite pairs alongside the damper in lieu of the central flexible suspension elements of my patent, thereby enabling the damper to be held and manipulated more positively and to be so supported in all positions that it will not rattle or respond to wind pressure.

A further and important feature of my invention is to so design the side guides that when the ctWer assumes either open or closed position it will be engaged and held positively in such position against wind pressure and independently of the means for imparting longitudinal movement to it.

More part cularly my invention contemplates providing the damper With slotted ears or rollers spaced along its side edges and adapted to travel on inclined guides rigidly mounted in the ventilator andextending parallel with the ridge. These inclined guides can be of any desired material and have any cross section necessary for supporting the load of the cover and they can be given such a pitch as will not impose undue resistance to the longitudinal adjustment of long and heavy dampers.

Where in practice long and heavy dampers are to be handled, and up to the present time they have been constructed in unit lengths of 250 feet weighing 400 pounds or more, in order tolighten the pull for opening such dampers, it is desirable that their guides shall have a very small pitch and be suitably spaced according to the load to be sustained. Preferably these elongated inclined guides can be carried by the existing braces that support the cover of the ventilator.

Where shorter run dampers are to be operated, Short length steeper pitch side guides can be provided therefor and these may be carried by separate independent brackets. These short guides can have horizontal top and bottom extensions onto which the perforated lugs on the damper can be run to support the damper firmly against vertical movement in either its full open or full closed position. By this means the damper can be held positively closed independently of any other means.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspective View showing my preferred type of continuous ridge ventilator with the damper in closed or lowered position, the side baflie plate being broken away to show a guide for a short run light damper.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the damper supported in open or raised position by its side guides, the other parts of the ventilator being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the ventilator shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the braces for supporting the ventilator cover also supporting the long gradually inclined guides for a long run heavy damper shown in half open position.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the ventilator shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a suitable means for longitudinally moving the damper to raise or lower it.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged cross-sectional views taken along the lines VII-VII of Fig.

.2 and VIII-VIII of Fig. 4, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the top latch and support for long run dampers.

Fig. 10 shows a roller type of damper support working on angle iron guides and suitable for heavy industrial installations.

In the embodiment of my invention illus trated in Figs. 1 to 3, I show my improved type of damper adjustment applied to the continuous ridge ventilator of the type forming the subject matter of my Letters Patent aforesaid and which may be briefly described as comprising a pair of flashing plates 10 and 11 which are suitably secured to the roof on opposite sides of the ridge aperture therein and these flashing plates terminate at their upper edges in upturned lips 12 which are continuous for the full length of the ventilator and are of suflicient height to prevent water being blown up under the ogee baffle plates'13 and into the ridge opening.

At suitable points along these flashing plates I mount braces 14 formed of strap iron having one end bent to provide bottom lugs 15 adapted to receive the bottom edge of an ogee side bafile plate 13, the strips being then bent upwardly and across over the ridge opening 16 so as to support the cover of the ventilator which comprises the center ridge portion 17 and bottom side flanges 18.

U-braces 19 are secured at their lowerlends to the side flanges 18 and braces 14 and at their upper ends are bent over to receive the top edges of the baflies 13. Customarily the baffles are sufficiently held under tension in the bights provided for them on the brace plates 14 and 19 but they may be bolted or riveted to these brace plates if desired, and braces are disposed at suitable intervals, customarily on 30" centers. Such ventilator construction is continuous for the full length of the roof aperture and it is to be understood that in factory buildings these apertures have extended up to and in excess of 500 feet.

I provide a damper 20 for the ventilator opening 16 in the ridge. Preferably this damper is of inverted V-shape with side flanges 21 downturned and adapted in closed position to overhang the flanges 12 on the flashing plates upon which the damper will seat. The damper can be made in one piece and operated as such up to runs of 250 feet, but above this we have found it desirable to divide the damper into sections, preferably two sections, and to operate these sections independently and in the manner which will now be described.

The damper is provided at suitable intervals with cross straps 22 having their ends overhanging the damper sides 21 and formed with perforated lugs or ears 23 which are set at an incline, preferably at right angles to the inclination of the guide on which they are mounted.

Where shortrun dampers are to be handled, the guides on which these lugs or ears 23 will run may be formed as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, wherein I show a bracket formed by a bent metal plate 24 having vertical guide support arms 25 and 26 integral therewith. These arms receive and rigidly support the ends of an inclined track or guide rod 27 which passes through the perforation in a lug 23 on the damper. These guide rods can be made of bronze or any suitable material, preferably rust-proof, and designed to be stiff enough to retain its shape. Each is provided at the ends of its intermediate inclined portion with horizontal end portions 28 and 29. Onto these horizontal end portions the lug 23 is adapted to be run and when in position thereon it will positively support the damper either in raised or lowered position and hold it against vertical displacement or vibration responsive to wind pressure.

It is important to note that the bottom guide extension 28 will be disposed so as to hold the damper against the flashing flanges 12, thus positively closing the ventilator opening 16 in the building and protecting it against loss of heat or access of rain or wind. \Vhen the damper rests on the upper horizontal support 29 its load will be off of its longitudinal adjusting means which can be left free if desired.

As shown, the means for closing any of the dampers may comprise a chain or flexible connection 30 run over a pulley 31, suitably supported with its upper periphery close to the level of the damper when closed and fastened to the damper. For opening the light short run dampers the same mechanism can be employed as for closing them except that the connection will be extended further from the pulley so that the variation in the angle of pull will be negligible as the damper rises. However, in long run heavy dampers, the opening mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 may be used. It comprises a depending bracket 32 to the lower edge of which is attached the flexible connection 33. The pointof connecttion depends low enough so that when the damper has been lifted to raised position the pull on it will be substantially horizontal.

I have shown no means for securing the ends of these flexible connections 30 and 33 but any suitable means may be provided where desired and it is obvious that other mechanism, such as is employed for the manipulation of mechanically operated sash may be used for handling extra heavy dampers.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, I show the guide and operating mechanism for long run heavy dampers and here I attach to adjacent braces 14 a guide rod 34 set at a gradual incline. The lugs 23 on the damper plates 22 are set atright angles to the inclination of these rods which at their ends are suitably secured to the braces 14 as by means of eyes 35 that receive mounting bolts 36. Preferably it 'as' IOU sociate with the upper end of the rod 34 a latch lug 37 to receive and support the weight of the damper in raised position. This latch lug is more clearly shown in Fig. 9 and comprises a bracket 38 mounted on the brace 14 supporting the high end of the guide rod 34 and in position below the guide so that the damper lug 2.3 can be run up onto it. Preferably a latch shoulder 39 is provided on the free end of the lug 37 over which the damper lug must be raised in passing so that it will drop behind this shoulder and remain on the lug 37 until the damper is given a strong closing pull in a direction that will force its lugs over these humps 39 and permit it to be drawn back down the incline guides 34.

In Fig. 10 I show a low friction type of mounting for heavy industrial dampers.

Here the damper has a heavy bend iron 40 attached thereto like the strap 22 and has its ends downturned at 41 and bent inwardly at 42 to form a hold-down lug which is inclined so as to lie parallel with the inclined portion of the'damper guides. A roller 43 is mounted by a stud bearing 44 in each strap end 41 and is disposed to travel on the outturned flange 45 of an angle iron guide which is suitably attached to braces or supports in the ventilator and has its upper and lower ends horizontally disposed like the ends 28 and 29 of the guides 27.

The hold-down lugs 41 on the straps are overhung by the angle irons and are preferably inclined on the same pitch as that of the inclined portion of the guide. This prevents it binding as it passes from the ends to the inclined portion of the guide and in all positions prevents the vertical disengagement of the damper from its guides.

In operation, having assembled the ventilator in the manner described and assuming the damper in its closed position, it will rest with its sides 21 overlapping the flashing edges 12 and in this position it will extend the full length of the flashing, thus effectively closing the ventilating opening in the roof and preventing any ventilating function.

When it is desired to start the ventilation, the opening pull cord is grasped and the damper is pulled lengthwise in a direction to cause its lugs 23 to ride up their respective inclined guides 27 or 34 as the case may be. If less than full ventilation is desired, the pull connection may be secured to hold the damper on its guides in any desired intermediate position. When full ventilation is desired the damper is pulled to its highest position on its guides when its supporting lugs 23 or rollers 43 either ride onto the horizontal supporting portions 29 of their respective damper guides or onto the supporting lugs 37 for the heavy damper guides and these serve to support the damper open with its load ofii of its guides and to hold it against accidental gravitating movement down its guides or from any vertical vibration .or wind responsive movement. By arranging the guides in opposite pairs alongside the damper it will not rock to either side as it is manipulated and it will be held against lateral play or wind vibration in all positions. This is especially important in respect of intermediate and closed positions for the damper.

To make clear the importance of these means for holding down the damper, it has been found in practice that dampers weighing as much as 400 lbs. have been lifted off of their seats through the combined aspirating effect of the overflowing air currents and the air pressure under the roof. With side guides to hold the damper positively in all operating positions, this responsiveness to wind pressure is eliminated and the tendency of the damper to vibrate or to rattle will be overcome.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred forms only, it will be understood that there may be changes in its physical structure and manner of operation without departing from the essence of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a continuous ridge ventilator having an elongated damper for closing the ridge opening, means to manipulate said damper comprising means to' impart longitudinal movement to the damper and similarly inclined fixed guides arranged at intervals along each side of the damper in combination with a series of perforated lugs on each side of the damper adapted to receive and slide on said guides.

2. A ventilator according to claim 1, in which the perforated lugs on the damper are disposed substantially at right angles to the inclination of the guide.

3. In a continuous ridge ventilator having an elongated damper for closing the ridge opening, means to raise and lower the damper to open and close it comprising means to impart longitudinal movement thereto, inclined side guides for the damper non-inclined elements included in the guides upon which the damper-is adapted to rest and be supported in its full open position,and which have'a shoulder disposed to prevent a gravitating movement of the damper.

4. In a continuous ridge ventilator, an elongated rigid damper adapted tov be raised and lowered to open. and to close the ridge opening, a plurality of sets of similarly inclined guides with which the damper is slidably engaged, and means to produce relative longitudinal movement between the damper and its guides to fully open and close the damper.

5. In a continuous ridge ventilator having an elongated damper adapted to be raisedand lowered to open and close the ridge opening, inclined guides disposed at intervals alongside said damper, rigid supports in the ventilator for said guides, lugs on the damper slidably mounted on the guides to raise and lower the damper responsive to longitudinal movements thereof, and means at the end portions on the guides to form supports adapted to hold the damper in its full open and full closed position.

6. In a continuous ridge ventilator comprising bottom flashing plates, side baffles, a ventilator cover, and a plurality of aligned braces mounted on the plates and supporting the cover and bafiles, a series of inclined guides connecting adjacent braces, a continuous rigid damper adapted to seat on the flashing plates and having perforated lugs adapted to run on said guides, and means to adjust the damper on its guides to raise and lower it.

7. In a continuous ridge ventilator comprising bottom flashing plates, a ventilator cover, side baffles, and a series of brackets mounted on the plates and supporting the cover and bafiles, a series of similarly inclined guides connected to adjacent brackets, a continuous rigid damper adapted to seat on the flashing plates and having along its sides perforated lugs adapted to receive and run on said guides, means to adjust the damper on its guides to raise and lower it, and means associated with the guides for holding the damper against vertical displacement or vibration in its raised or lowered position.

8. In a continuous ridge ventilator having an elongated damper for the ventilator opening, side roller supports for the damper, inclined guides on which the rollers run and responsive to relative movement between damper and guides act to open and close the damper, said damper having rigid holddown elements overhung by said guides.

9. In a continuous ridge ventilator having an elongated damper for the ventilator opening, side roller supports for the damper, inclined angle iron guides with horizontal end extensions on which the rollers run and responsive to relative movement between damper and guides act to open and close the damper, said damper having hold-down elements inclined like said guides and overhung thereby.

In testimony whereof I MACDOUGALD DEX- TER, affix my signature.

MACDOUGALD DEXTER. 

